Kicking off Season 25!
Strong Foundations
We are so excited to be celebrating our 25th season of dance excellence this year, and are honored to have played a major part in the development of so many confident and creative young people. We truly believe that every family that has walked through our doors is a member of our tight knit community for life! Founded by Karen Stemen in 1999, many former students have gone on to become teachers here at Dance.tech, pouring their hearts into the next generation of performers. Each year we strive to become better educators and community leaders, and we can't wait to grow alongside you for the next 25 years!
Makeup Classes
Whether you miss a class because of inclement weather, illness, or a school event, we are happy to honor our makeup class policy! Dancers are invited to attend any other age or level-appropriate class to makeup for the one that was missed. Yes, that counts when we are closed for federal holidays as well. The best part? Dancers can redeem their makeup class any time through the end of the dance year!
Programs
Here at Dance.tech we have classes for everyone, from ages 3-83! Our Debut and Spotlight, and Level 2 combo classes offer an introduction to two dance styles, while our Leveled Technique classes focus on one style each. Students are invited to attend a FREE preview class before enrolling to make sure the class they have chosen is the perfect fit!
We can't forget about our adult dancers! Our punch card system allows for busy schedules, and each class is taught to accommodate a variety of levels. Check out our full schedule at www.dance-tech.com!
Performances
We are so fortunate here in Blacksburg to have a multitude of performance opportunities available to students each season. We host in-studio showcases every 6-8 weeks as we prepare for our end of year finale, the Spring Recital! In addition, ballet, gymnastics, and select other class styles are featured in the annual Nutcracker, in collaboration with the Blacksburg Ballet. We can't forget to mention everyone's favorite local tradition... Steppin' Out, and a multitude of other special events!
Alumni
Where are they now? Many of our alumni go on to continue to be involved in the dance world, but ALL of our alumni utilize the life skills they've learned to flourish, no matter their path. Former DT students are: in medical school, past and present members of the VT Hightechs, professional dancers, masters degree candidates, teachers, mothers, and more!
Youth Protection Association for Dance
To mark our 25th season we are becoming a fully YPAD certified studio! What does this mean for our families? It means that we are committing to putting the health and happiness of each student at the forefront of our programs. ALL staff will have CPR and mental health support certification, background checks, and training in safety precautions, inclusivity, age-appropriate movement and music choices, costuming for confidence, and more.
Details can be found here: https://ypadnow.com.
Styles
We are excited to offer a wide range of dance styles here at DT, including tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, creative movement, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, barre, gymnastics, leaps and turns, strength and stretch, and more! Many students enjoy taking classes in multiple styles, offering them the opportunity to become well-rounded performers.
Ballet
Did you know? We are happy to offer unlimited ballet technique classes to all students! We also have a FREE Pre-pointe class on our schedule for eligible dancers.
A lot of people ask us about the Blacksburg Ballet... this is our sister company! We are proud to be the home of this local non-profit. The Blacksburg Ballet produces The Nutcracker each year, featuring Dance.tech students alongside professional ballet dancers, community members, and cultural groups.
Teaching Assistants
Dance.tech dancers are invited to apply for the role of Teaching Assistant the semester that they turn 16. Our TA's serve as role models in the community and get the opportunity to actively teach inside the classroom. They also receive training in life skills such as finding shift coverage, professional communication, and public speaking. The TA's are rockstars, balancing school, dance, and leadership!
Discounts
Our tuition is based on family enrollment, so sibling discounts are automatically built in! Whether you have one dancer or a whole squad, you receive $10 off the monthly tuition of each class when you enroll in 2+ classes. PAC families receive an even bigger discount on optional classes and male dancers receive 50% off! Don't forget our referral program... there are multiple ways to save at DT!
Curriculum
Our curriculum is designed by Kindergarten teacher and experienced dancer, Miss Victoria, alongside Miss Ashley, a longtime dance educator and mother of 5 amazing kiddos. Technical skills are presented utilizing characters and themes that tiny dancers know and love. This helps with memory recall and enthusiasm when mastering tricky skills! We take pride in keeping things fun while helping dancers to reach their full potential.
Class Observation
We have CCTV's in the lobby for families to observe classes in all three of our studios. Every 6-8 weeks we invite friends and family into the classroom to check out what we've been working on. It's like a mini performance every other month that helps us to prepare for our bigger shows at the end of each semester!
PowerPAC
Members of our Performing Arts Company perform at halftime shows, community events, regional competitions, The Nutcracker, our Spring Recital, Company Concert, and more! In the past few years we've danced at Disney, aboard a Carnival Cruise, and even at Martinsville Speedway. Interested in joining our Company? Auditions for NEW members will be held on Friday, August 18th. Email info@dance-tech.com for details!